Thursday 13 September 2007

Irish

They poured into town yesterday and doused themselves silly in support of their hometeam, Northern Ireland. Despite their best efforts though, including liters and liters of beer, Iceland bested their boys by 2 to 1 in last night's UEFA qualifying match. It was fun, I suppose, while it lasted!

Friday 10 August 2007

Curiousity

If J.J. Abrams does film his impending Star Trek movie here, I will have a chance to fulfill the dream of a lifetime: to take part, on screen, in the Star Trek universe. It all started when Pabbi took me to get Leonard Nemoy's autograph at the opening of a condo complex in Pacific Grove in 1974 or so. We used to watch reruns of the original show together when I was little, and I've followed every series and movie since then (I don't follow conventions and I'm not a member of the offical web site, but I love it anyway!) Just the other day I remorsed over the fact that I'd maybe never get to live my dream (even beinging a backround extra in full, unrecognizable costume would make me happy) and that a whole generation of kids (who don't have access to perpetual reruns like in the States, my daughter included) have no idea what Star Trek is all about. Now J.J. Abrams, the creater of my very favorite modern show, Alias, as well as Lost, is going to save our children from ignorance, and help me live my dream. Stoked! (note from my future self in 2011: J.J. quit on the idea, so I'm still waiting...)

On another note, I got a very sweet email from a reader who'd asked me some questions about traveling here with kids before their vacation. She's written to let me know how it went, and I thought I'd just reprint it here for everyone to enjoy. Oh, and the lambkins in the photo is a resident of the Reykjavík Zoo and Family Animal Park she mentions below:

Dear Maria,

We are back from an amazing 10 days in Iceland, most of it spent in
Reykjavik but with a couple of trips out of the city (to the Blue
Lagoon, and the Golden Circle tour with the physicists from the
conference). Thank you so much for your tips - it was even better
than we could have imagined. The weather was spectacular (best summer
in 35 years - thank you for sharing it with us), and the city is so
perfectly-sized and friendly. We went to the Family Fun Park three
times (!), and to many of the pools -- including a really wonderful
day on Saturday, when we visited Abersafn and then walked up the
river to Arbaerslaug. It could not have been more gorgeous.

We discovered a few little playgrounds around town - the one on the
green hill at the foot of Bankastraeti/Laugavegur, and the little
preschool playground at the bottom of the Tjorn. But really we had
the most fun just toodling around the city, with James on his
scooter. We were staying at a place on Ranargata, so on the first day
out we went through Ingolfstorg, which has that excellent ramp. Every
single day we had to make a pilgrimage back there, sometimes twice or
three times, so scooter-boy could do about a dozen loops on the ramp.
It was funny to encounter the other scootering kids in the mornings,
and the leather-clad bikies in the evenings.

How lucky you are to be bringing up your children in such a great
place. It reminds me in some ways of New Zealand twenty years ago; I
hope Iceland doesn't change as much as NZ has, in the ways that
aren't so good.

I was also very struck by the attitude to children, which seems very
calm and dignified and matter-of-fact and accepting. I knew Iceland
was a kid-friendly place, but I didn't anticipate how that
"friendliness" would manifest itself. Occasional scooter near-misses
were greeted with smiles (except from the occasional grouchy
tourist), and it took me a while to notice that my kids and I would
make it through the day without encountering those well-meaning but
patronising comments from adults that are so common elsewhere... I
don't know if I'm expressing myself well, here, but it seems that
much of the way children are spoken to (or about) here in the US is
either very grumpy or very sugary. In our whole time in Iceland, I
don't think anybody mentioned Toby's adorable curls or his cute
little sandals all the time we were there, or said to James "So, are
you the big brother? are you a good big brother?" I got the
impression that while children are well-loved, you'd no more talk
about somebody's children in those terms than you'd talk to or about
somebody's spouse that way. Which I love, by the way - why *do*
people pat children on the heads or on the bottom, when we don't do
that to adults?? It was fascinating... I wonder if you'd concur with
my interpretation, or whether I was just seeing things through
tourist-coloured glasses :-)

Anyway, we've been raving about the trip to all our friends, and hope
to make it back again some day. Thank you again for your tips in
advance, and I'll keep reading your lovely blog...

Jolisa

Monday 30 July 2007

Play

Inspiration can't be forced, and since most of mine is directed toward home improvement these days, I'm kind of at a loss for words. I'll let the Icelandican do the honors via her blog. She's a talented fourteen year old writer who's posting a chapter (or more!) a week of her story-in-progress, and who's not afraid of a little decent critique to nudge the efforts along. Pop on over and give her a hello...just be sure to find chapter one before you dig into six because she's building up stacks of suspense that you wouldn't want to miss.

And for visuals, here's a slightly different shot of Hallgrímskirkja than the ones we're all so very used to (with all due respect to moddular, who's photo I've used as an example...)

Keep it real.

Sunday 22 July 2007

Valentína!

Happy Birthday to my Valentína! Today she is 10 years old, double digits for the first time. She is the most positive, diligent, humorous and caring person I know and I am blessed to have her in my life.

I took this shot of her at Tivoli in Copenhagen on our trip this spring. It was her dream for the two of us to go together for over four years, and we had an absolute blast! Today she's at a family reunion with her father, so I'll miss her on her big day, but it's to my absolute joy that I get to spend another excellent year with her when this, her most recent adventure, comes to a close.

Big kisses! Love, Mamma.

Tuesday 17 July 2007

Bonfire

Congratulations to Esther and Joi on their Saturday wedding!

This pic is not from the wedding but from their stag/bachelorette party (the two groups merged at a very nice summer house for bbq, bolla and bonfire as the days separate activities wound down.) We had a fantastic time round the blazing bál of love that night, and an even better time at their very glamourous and romantic recent nuptials. They are just out of frame in this shot, but when I get my paws on an official wedding photo, it'll be up for sure.

Once again, love and kisses to the newlyweds and a warm thanks for a wonderful and memorable event!

Monday 9 July 2007

Flora and Fauna

Here is our Óðinn reorganizing things at the world's most northerly Botanical Garden, in Akureyri (the garden is located just to the right of the 600 on thismap.) The garden is especially beautiful and highly recommended to everyone traveling to Iceland's lovely northern city.

I received an email from a University of Washington student who is coming here for a two month internship and who is having trouble finding lodgings. She will be arriving next week and has asked if I can help her out in any way. Do any of my local readers know of a room or apartment available for rent? If so, please either leave a comment or email me so we can help her out. Much appreciated...

Oh, and one more thing. Check out this blog. My parent's across the street neighbor is swimming the English Channel as I write (3 p.m. GMT) and this blog is keeping track of his progress with text (in Icelandic, unfortunately) and photos (which speak an international language, thankfully). He's also active in adult gymnastics, and trained for this swim by working out in the Atlantic waters just off of Nautholsvík, shown in previous posts. Go Benni Go!

Monday 2 July 2007

Beach

Here's another shot of our lovely little beach at Nauthólsvík. I'm sure it was packed with beautiful bodies this weekend, as the weather here has been fantastic. I'm always so happy for tourists and other visitors when they get to experience real summer in full bloom on this often stark volcanic island!

My niece Mekkin (who was shown playing with dolphins in an earlier post) is here for the summer, and being fourteen years old is gainfully employed in the unglingavinna program the state provides. Teens (or unglinga) are paid a small but better-than-nothing wage to smarten up the towns and cities by planting annuals and plucking weeds, mowing public lawns and picking trash from park bushes. For most Icelanders it was their first real job, and I'm really proud of Mekkin for choosing to come here from California to improve her Icelandic (she was born here so it's all up there in her head somewhere!), immerse herself in her native culture and show her independence. I used to laugh at the sight of "lazy" teens laying about in parks, pulling weeds at the rate of two or three an hour, but I completely appreciate that nearly all of them choose to take on these jobs as opposed to laying about at home doing nothing for the summer months. When the weather is great like it's been, there's even the added bonus of grabbing a nice tan while they're at it!

This country is undergoing massive growth right now, if all the building and prettification is any sign. Iceland has an overall Can-Do attitude that's manifesting in improvements to infrastructure, the expansion of universities and colleges, an almost overwhelming number of new commercial enterprises and residential neighborhoods, and quite possibly, the application of our natural resources to new and more viable industries. I was wondering the other day if Iceland as a nation has attracted, through our genius blend of historical relevance (we are The Vikings) and size-doesn't-matter arrogance, it's almost incomprehensible prosperity, a la The Secret. The Law of Attraction states that if you believe something to be so, and stay focused on that belief, material reality will manifest that belief. We have always believed ourselves to be special, to be strong, to be survivors and to be creators, and we are. The evidence is manifest and apparent everywhere you look and listen on this best little island in the world.